Turkish Police Believe Saudi Journalist Was Killed at Consulate

The sources did not say how they believed the killing was carried out.

Saudi Arabia rejected accusations on Saturday that missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi had been killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

The Saudi consul-general in Istanbul allowed reporters from the Reuters news agency to tour the consulate on Friday, to show that Khashoggi was not on the premises.

The source said the team was at the consulate that same day and later left Turkey for Saudi Arabia.

"Also included in these agreements are that part of these armaments will be manufactured in Saudi Arabia, so it will create jobs in America and Saudi Arabia, good trade, good benefits for both countries and also good economic growth". Government officials pledged to release evidence on Sunday to support their claim that the journalist was killed shortly after he entered the consulate.

A fierce critic of Saudi policies, the royal family and its power, Mr Khashoggi had been living in self-imposed exile in Washington for the past year, fearing retribution for his views.

A spokesman for Turkey's ruling AK Party said Saturday that authorities would finally uncover Khashoggi's whereabouts.

In July, Mr. Khashoggi said he no longer felt he had a role to play back home, largely because freedom of expression had become so constricted under the Saudi crown prince.

Amnesty International called on Saudi authorities to "immediately disclose the evidence supporting their claim that Jamal Khashoggi left the consulate last Tuesday, otherwise their claims are utterly baseless and only exacerbate suspicions that they are indeed detaining him in what would amount to an enforced disappearance".

Protestors hold pictures of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a demonstration in front of the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on October 5, 2018. More details from the Turkish authorities are expected on Sunday.

"Ever since the relationship started between Saudi Arabia and the United States of America, we've bought everything with money", he further said, adding that since Trump came to power, the kingdom made a decision to purchase over 60 percent of its needed armament from the USA "for the next 10 years".

Turkish media said prosecutors were now looking closely at the case, although this may be a widening of an inquiry begun on Tuesday. But Turan Kislakci added that diplomatic cars had been seen moving in and out.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said it was alarmed by reports Khashoggi may have been killed inside the consulate. "We have nothing to hide".

Never one to mince his words, Khashoggi described a new Saudi era of "fear, intimidation, arrests and public shaming" in an article published in the Post previous year.

According to Khashoggi's fiancee, a Turkish woman identified only as Hatice A., he went to the consulate and never re-emerged.

Khashoggi is known to have been critical of the Saudi domestic and foreign policies.